Piedmont: Familiar face assumes top role at Havens Elementary

Anne Dolid, former assistant principal for Piedmont High School, is photographed at Frank C. Havens Elementary School in Piedmont, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 8, 2014 as the new principal, replacing Cheryl Wozniak. (Laura A. Oda/Bay Area News Group)

PIEDMONT -- Next week, students and parents will welcome Havens Elementary School's new principal, Anne Dolid -- a familiar face on campus as assistant principal for this past school year.

Dolid replaces Cheryl Wozniak, who moved to the district offices to become director of curriculum, filling a position that had been frozen for several years.

"I am thrilled to be here. It feels like home already, and I am looking forward to the year," said Dolid, who has been with the district three years. She served as assistant principal for two years at Piedmont High School; the third year, she began splitting her time, serving as an assistant principal at Havens.

Growing up in Santa Barbara, Dolid worked six years for the Livermore school district. She taught for two years at Granada High School, then served four years as vice principal at Livermore High School. Before that, she was with the New York City Department of Education, teaching for three years at a middle school in Manhattan.

Dolid attended UC Davis, then moved to New York, where she attained her master's in education and a teaching credential at City College of New York. After she returned to California, she received her administration credential at Cal State East Bay.

As principal of the largest elementary school in Piedmont, she noted, "Before this, I was a facilitator and adviser. Now I am the decision-maker, a shift in thinking."

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Dolid realized along her career path that she aspired to be an administrator, not a classroom teacher.

"After three years as an assistant principal, Anne is ready to take on the role of principal," Superintendent Connie Hubbard said. "We are fortunate to have her remain part of Piedmont's leadership. Anne's secondary experience strengthens our commitment as a district to a true K-12 perspective for students, staff and parents."

Dolid will hit the ground running when school opens on Aug. 20.

"It's exciting," she said. "We have hired six new classroom teachers, including one from Wildwood school. I will have lunch with as many as are available and to chat as they go through teacher orientation. Cheryl Vaughn, my administrative assistant, is a huge help."

The new assistant principal at Havens will be Ken Taylor, a teacher at Havens for 11 years. Taylor will divide his time as a science resource teacher and assistant principal.

Dolid did not come from a family of educators, "but my aunt was a teacher at Havens, so I've known about the school for a long time," she said.

This past week, she attended the Lucy Kaulkins Reader's Workshop that focuses on the language arts curriculum in elementary schools to refresh her knowledge.

The new principal appreciates the feeling of community at Havens, and Piedmont in general. She applauds the custodians who have been working hard to spruce up the school for opening.

"Everything is getting refreshed for the new school year," she said.

The mother of two boys, ages 1 and 4, she lives in Oakland with her husband, Ari Dolid.